Richard III

Richard III


House / Group: York
Born / died: 1452-1485
Reign: 1483-1485


The fourth son of Richard, Duke of York (a  claimant to the throne of King Henry VI) and Cecily Neville.
On the death of his brother Edward IV, Richard briefly governed as a regent for his brother Edward's son Edward V, but then imprisoned Edward and his brother Richard in the Tower and acquired the throne for himself.
Richard married  Anne Neville (daughter of the late Earl of Warwick) widow of  Edward of Westminster, son of Henry VI. They had one child, Edward, who died in 1484, age 11. Richard also had two illegitimate children (John and Kathryn).
Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field. defeated by the Earl of Richmond (who became Henry VII). His body was dragged naked through the streets and buried at Greyfriars Church, Leicester. His remains might have been thrown into the River Soar during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but if not, it is probably under a car park in Leicester.
Richard's coat of arms appeared on a British stamp in 1984.